Charlotte County

For four years, Money Magazine rated Charlotte County one of the top five places to live in the United States, and from 1996 through 2005, the county has received high ratings in similar regional and national surveys conducted by Forbes, Kiplinger’s, MSN, Men’s Journal, and Florida Trend. The weather’s fine, the people are friendly, the economy is strong—Charlotte County is Florida living at its best.

Amenities

In and around Charlotte County you’ll find

• Three hospitals
• Over 125 churches representing a wide range of faiths and denominations
• A public school system that has received an “A” rating from the State of Florida for four consecutive years
• Two colleges and one university
• One regional airport and three international airports
• Over 70 parks and recreation areas and one federal wildlife refuge
• 12.5 miles of Gulf Coast beaches, 15 public beach access sites, 28 marinas, and 13 boat ramps
• Over 16 golf courses
• Affordable cost of living
• Relaxed Florida living, unspoiled by overcrowding
• Pleasant year-round climate
• Convenient shopping, with 36 shopping centers

Situated between Lee County and Sarasota County on the Gulf of Mexico in southwest Florida, Charlotte County is about 100 miles south of Tampa, 160 miles northwest of Miami and 120 miles southwest of Orlando. Most of the population is located in the eastern part of the county, near Charlotte Harbor and the Peace River.

The county’s climate is mainly tropical, with average year-round temperatures around 75 degrees. The coldest month is January, with an average temperature of 64 degrees, and the hottest is August, with an average temperature of 82 degrees. The average annual rainfall is around 50 inches.

Economy

Charlotte County—one of the fastest growing counties in Florida—offers outstanding opportunity for businesses seeking to expand or relocate. Attractions for business owners include a healthy tax base, low business costs, strong financial institutions, accessible rail and highway transportation, labor force, and training facilities.

With 3,000 acres of land set aside for industrial development, and industrial parks conveniently located around the county, there is plenty of potential for industrial development.

Florida residents enjoy one of the lowest overall tax burdens in all 50 states. The state imposes no income tax, and the state sales tax rate is six percent.

The majority of Charlotte County’s labor force is employed in the following industries: retail; education and health services; construction, mining and natural resources; public administration, leisure and hospitality, and professional and business services.

The agricultural products of Charlotte County include citrus fruit, watermelon, potatoes, eggplant, tomatoes, squash, peppers, cabbage and cucumbers.

Recreation

Charlotte County offers an abundance of recreation activities for children and adults. Whether you are outdoor enthusiast, a fan of the arts, or just love sightseeing, check out what Charlotte County has to offer.

Charlotte County Stadium (6,000 seats) is the spring training home of Major League Baseball’s Texas Rangers. Grapefruit League games take place from February to early April, and minor league games continue throughout the summer.  

Youth sports include Pop Warner football, Little League baseball, one of Florida’s best BMX tracks, and a skateboard park.  

Golf

Florida is a golfer’s paradise, and Charlotte County boasts at least 16 executive- to championship-level golf courses.

Watersports

The natural shoreline of Charlotte County’s waterways stretches 219 miles, lining some of the most pristine and beautiful coastal areas in Florida, which are home to barrier islands and mangrove forests. With its white sand and warm waters, this area was named one of the top 10 sailing destinations by SAIL magazine.

Charlotte County’s water trails offer canoers and kayakers an opportunity to leisurely view and enjoy the natural wonders of Florida’s spectacular native flora and fauna while paddling the waters at a laid-back pace.

Parks

Charlotte County features over 70 parks and recreational areas, including a 65,000 acre

wildlife management area featured in the Florida Wildlife Viewing Guide. Within these parks you will find tennis courts, boat ramps, bike trails, playgrounds, and extensive nature trails and bird watching opportunities,

Arts and Culture

The Charlotte Performing Arts Center (home of the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra) and the Visual Arts Center are two of the must-see locations for art-and-culture seekers in Charlotte County. Art galleries, exhibits, and theatrical productions are showing throughout the year.

History buffs will enjoy a glimpse into days gone by, as provided by Charlotte County’s museums: the Freeman House, Ponce de Leon Historic Park and Shrine, and the National Police Museum.

The Charlotte County Historical Center features permanent and rotating exhibits illustrating the county’s history from pre-historic times to post-WWII, as well as local and state history.

Charlotte County libraries house a large collection of books, magazines, newspapers, reference materials and information services. Public internet access, homework help for students, interlibrary loan service, online database collections, computer classes, and group discussions are just some of the programs and services offered by the county’s libraries.

Theme Parks

With Disneyworld, Sea World and Universal Studios approximately 3 hours north and Tampa’s Busch Gardens and Water Park a mere 2 hours away, Charlotte County is ideally located for theme park aficionados.  

Find Your Place in Charlotte County

Check out our property listings to find your dream site in Charlotte County—then reserve your lot today!